Machine for manufacturing electric fuse plugs



Aug.5, 1941. L. WEISS r-:rAL

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC 'FUSE PLUGS Filed Aug. 17, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheetrl 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS eo d/el'ss,

L. WEISS ETAL Filed Aug. 17, 1937 MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC FUSE PLUGS Aug. 5, 1941.

BY l L ou fs La dan' ATTORNEY.

Aug.5, 1941.y wElss 'ETAL 2,251,434

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC FUSE PLUGS Filed Aug. l'T, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY.

Aug.5, 1941. 1 wElss Erm.. 2,251,434 MACINE FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC FUSE PLUG'S 'Filed Aug. 17, 1957 e sheets-sheet 4 Aug, 1941. L. WEISS Em 2,251,434

MACHINE FORMANUFACTURING ELECTRIC FUSE PLUGS Filed Aug. l?, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 I /5 I I' o5 l l I l l I 202 O' (D o3 /2 804 C fo C/g *79 INVENToRs 20 '6de/ss,

ATTORNEY.

Aug. 5, 1941. L. wE'lss ETAL.

MACHINE FOR MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC FUSE PLUGS Filed Aug. 17, 1937 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 m .wf ML. ,5mm AMM.

mmm.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Aug. 5, 1941 MACHINE Fon MANUFACTURING ELECTRIC .FUSE PLUGS Leo Weiss and Louis Ludwig, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Application August 17, 1937, Serial No. 159,468

(c1. 2Q-iss) Claims.

4The invention relates to a machine for making and assembling fuse` plugs. It has for its main objects to greatlydecrease the labor and time ordinarily consumed in making and` assembling such fuses; to produce fuses of a superior quality; and to reduce the number1 of faulty fuses generally found when such fuses are assembled by hand.-

' The invention comprises in a machine for making fuse plugs a supporting conveyor, means for moving said conveyor` step by step, preferably at a uniform` rate of speed, and intermittently in the same direction, supports for holding the hollow body members of fuse plugs upright on said conveyor, said body members having attached thereto metal outside contacts and center contacts, means mounted adjacent the conveyor for automatically feeding fuse links towards the conveyor, means mounted near said conveyorfor inserting said links in the body members, and means mounted above said conveyor and. spaced from said inserting means valong the conveyor in the direction of vtravel of the conveyor, for dropping solder into the body members. to solder the ends of the fuse links to the contacts. The invention may also include at the starting end ofthe conveyor means for rotatively positioning the body memberson the conveyor supports, and may include. after the inserting means, means mounted above said conveyor and adjacent said fuse link inserting means `for automatically dropping acid into the cavityin the body members .to clean the ends of the fuse links and the contacts. Saidinvention may also include preheating means placedbefore, and, after the solder-dropping means, lmeans. mounted above the conveyor andadjacentthe solder-dropping means for: dropping. cement `oversaid soldered joints, and also means adjacent the conveyor and said cement-dropping means -for rinserting and flattening slottedV labelsgon thebody. members-to, expose the fusamembers through said s1ots,.and may :include also an electrical device associated .with the .conveyor and adjacent the labelinserting means to test the electrical vconnections of the Yfusephfigsfand -to reject defective fuse plugs. The Vmeans in the automatic machine as set ior'thabove, the supports and the devices, are spaced 'along the conveyor in succession,l and are operativewithin auniformltime interval so thata` plurality or allof the essential .operations required` in fuse-plug manufacture can beA automatically. performed' in `.proper-scf quence to produce .eitherincomplete fuse -plugs ready for the other operations, or complete fuse plugs. i

These plugs produced by this automatic machine are of the type shown in Patent No. 2,073,160, issued March 9, 1937, and Patent No. 2,041,295, issued May 19, 1936.

In the drawings,` which'iillustrate preferred embodiments of a machine for carrying out the method, but in which various modiiications might be made without departing. from the scope of the appended claims,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a machine on whichl the methodis performed;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of same;

Fig. Sis a diagrammatic view illustrating some of the various steps which can be performed ,on the machine;

f Fig. Lisis a side elevation of the locating device shown in part in cross section;

Fig. 5 is a top view of-Fig. 4; i

Fig.` 6 is a top view-of a certain chucking `device used with the locating device;

. Fig. 7 isla top view of a fuse plug body-member of avtype which may be assembled in this machine; f f

gFig; 8 is a cross-sectional,` side view of Fig. 7; Figpg is a rear view of the intermittent-motion mechanism;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the fuse link makingand'inserting machine, shown partlyin cross-section; i qFig. V11 is alfragmental, top View of a certain part of this mechanism;

Fig. 12 is another top view `of the mechanism;

`Fig-'13 is a fragmental, front view of the mechanism; i

Fig. 14V is ai fragmental, side elevation of one of the movements in this mechanism;

Fig. 15 is another side elevation of another movement in vthe mechanism;

Fig. 16 is a cross-sectional, side view of a certain member used in connection with the feeding mechanism; Y

vFig. 17 is a perspective view of appart of the strip of fuse metal from` which lthe fuse links are made and showing various steps in the making-ofthis fuse link; Fig. 18 is a side view of the soldering device, shown partlyin cross section;

v Fig. 19 is a top View of the vfuse-tilting device which is used inl connection with the soldering, as well as with some of the other, devices;-

Fig. 20 is a side elevation of, the label cutting andl attaching device, `shown partly in crosssect'ion and with certain partsbroken away;

Fig. 21 is a top view of Fig. 20;

Fig. 22 is a plan view of a strip of labels, such as are used with the fuses;

Fig, 23 is a fragmental view of some of the parts of the label-attaching device;

Fig. 24 is a side View of the fuse testing device; and

Fig. 25 is a side view illustrating one of the grooved cams employed in the device.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the machine consists of a table Il) which is supported at each end on legs I I. A plurality of pedestal bearings I2 are mounted on top of the table and in these bearings a main shaft I3 is rotatingly mounted; power being imparted to this shaft by pulley I4, or by any other suitable means. A double chain I5 is mounted on sprocket wheels I6 and II which are in turn mounted in bearings IB and I9. The bearing I9 is preferably slidably mounted by means of adjusting screws 20 so that the chains may be tightened as wear occurs. The chains are driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 2| and intermittent motion is imparted to the chains by means of a grooved cam 22, mounted on the end of the main shaft, and a studded disk 23, secured on the same shaft on which the sprockets I6 are secured. This intermittent-motion mechanism will be described later.

The upper part of the chain is supported on rails 24 mounted in brackets 25. These brackets are secured on top of the table I. A pair of upper guides 26 and 2T are also secured on the brackets 25, as plainly shown in Fig. 4. The two chains I5 are connected by a plurality of square links 28' in each of which a circular opening 29 is formed, The fuse bodies 33, on which the process is to be performed, are inserted in these openings so that they will hang between the two chains and be supported by the upper shoulder 3l of the fuse, as plainlytshown in Fig. 4.

The fuses are inserted in these openings at the right-hand end of the machine and, as the main shaft keeps turning continuously, the intermittent-motion mechanism moves the chains a step at a time, equal to the length of the distance between two adjacent fuses. The fuses may be inserted in the links Without regards for their exact location, as shown at AI in Fig. 3. As the fuse bodies advance towardsvthe left, they are progressively brought in underneath a locating device B, which turns the fuse body to the correct position, as indicated in BI in Fig. 3. This device will be described in detail later, as will also the other devices now to bementioned. f

Next the fuse body is moved under the fuse link making and inserting device C, which inserts the link 32, as show n in CI. The fuse body is next brought under the acid pot D where small quantities of acid, as shown at 33 and 34 in DI, are dropped into the fuse body to clean the ends of the fusible link and the parts with which they contact.

The fuses are next advanced underth-e solder pot E where quantities of solder 35 and 36 are dropped on the ends of the link, as shown in EI. Next the fuse link is placed under the pot F, containing porcelain cement or other sealing medium with which the joints are nally sealed, and small quantities of this medium are dropped into the fuse, as shown at 3l and 38 in4 Fig. 1. After this the fuse body is brought under the labelcutting `and inserting device G where a label 39 is secured to therfuse, as shown in GI. The fuse is now carried around to the left-'hand end of the chain while held in position by means of a guard 40 which extends around the end of the chains and under same,

An electric testing device H is placed at the end of the guard and as the fuses pass through this device they are tested to ascertain whether the proper electric connections are made. Faulty fuses are discharged from the testing device into a shute 4 I, while perfect fuses are carried through the device and along over another guide 42 from which they are discharged to a conveyor 43. To prevent the lower part of the chains from sagging, a rail 44 is placed under the chains and this rail is supported from the table by means of brackets 45.

The operation of the machine Will now be described in detail. As previously said, the fuse bodies are placed in the sockets 29 at the righthand end of the machine and advanced, step by step, by an intermittent-motion device. This device is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, but is more fully illustrated'in Fig. 9. It consists of the grooved cam 22 and the disk 23 which is mounted on a shaft 46 on which the set of sprocket wheels I6 is mounted. The disk is provided with a plurality of studs 4l on its face, while the cam is provided with a groove t8, shaped as indicated in Fig. 9.

As the main shaft turns in the direction indicated by the arrow 49, the stud, which is engaged in the groove, causes the disk 23 to move in the direction indicated by the arrow 5i) so that the stud marked 41A will enter the groove adjacent to it, while another stud Will be discharged from the groove. Thus, an intermittent movement is transmitted to the chain and each movement is of such a length as to move the chain a predetermined distance and place the fuse bodies exactly under the various devices on the machine.

The fuse body after having been inserted in the socket in the chain, is passed under the locating device which is illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 6 and which will now be described. This device consists of a frame member 5I which is mounted on the table I9 and in the upper part of which a rotating member 52 is mounted in bearings53 by means of a vertical shaft 54. A gear 55 is rigidly mounted on the shaft 54 and this gear is actuated by a rack 56 which slides in a grooved bearing 51. The end of this rack is pivoted, at 58, to a link 59 which in turn is pivoted to a lever 50 mounted on a shaft 6| which is supported in bearings formed on the frame structure 5I. The lever 68 is provided with a roller 62 which engages in a cam groove 63 milled in the cam 64. This cam is secured on the main shaft I3 as are all the other cams employed in the machine. One of these grooved cams is shown in Fig. 25; the shapes of the grooves being such as to give the proper action and timing to the parts which the cams actuate.

A bracket 65 is made integrally with the frame structure 5I and extends outwardly from the table, between the upper` and lower parts of the chain. At the outer end of this bracket, a vertical bearing 66 is formed and in this bearing a plunger 61 is mounted. The plunger has an enlargement 68 at its upper end and in this enlargement a socket 69 is formed. This enlargement and socket is best illustrated in Fig. 6. Three jaws 'I0 are slidingly mounted in grooves cut in the upper part of the enlargement and are held in placeY by a coil spring 1I, as plainly shown. This spring tends to push them inward in the socket. The plunger 61 has a shaft I2 secured transversely through it and this shaft is adapted to slideiin, grooves 'I3 formed in the bearingt. The ends ofthe shaft '|2are connected to two levers I4 and V'I5 which in turn are pinned to a shaft |6. Another. lever 'I1 is pinned to this shaft and provided with a roller vI8 at its upper end. This roller engages. ina ycam groove I9 formed in a cam 80. vA partiofthis cam, which isvalso mounted on `the main shaft I3, has been broken away so as to better illustrate the cam 64 and parts operated by this cam. Before describing the operation of the locating device,` one embodiment of a 4fuse body member, such as may be used on this machine, will now be described. ".This fuse body member is shown in detail in Figs. 'l `and 8.` 1It consists of the insulating* body member 30, on which a threaded, metal contact 8| is secured in the customary manner, as is also a hollow rivet 32. This hollow rivetand the threaded'metal shell form the twoA-electriccontacts of thai-use when finished. A recess83 is `formed inthe body member and shapedras plainly shown `in the two views. A groove B4 is formed in one side of the recess, while a pocket 85 is formed on the other side. This pocket extends `clear through to the exterior of the kbody members so that the threaded metal shell may be seenthrough the pocket. A depression 85 is formed in theuppler face of the body member and extends practically -all the way around the upper face, exceptv for ashort distance Vwhere the material of the body member comes up even to the top of the fuse. Thispoint is shown at B'I. v

As previously stated, the body members are inserted in the sockets in the links of the chain. A'

While some of them fmay be inserted properly, others will be improperly inserted, as for example the fuse shown at 30A in Fig. 5f The object of the locating device is to turn this body member into the correct position 4before vit enters under the other device of the machine.r This is accomplishedin the following --manner g When the fuse 'enters directly under the-locating devicathe plunger 61 is lifted, through the instrumentality the gear 55, rack 5 6, linki59,'lever 59, and cam, 'if

so that the `plunger will turnaround in the ree cess until it encounters the raisedpart l'. This movement of the rotating member 52 'is so arranged, by the construction of the cam 6ft, `that it will align the body member exactly in the right position in the chain. While the` plunger 88 is moved around in the recess BS, the body vmember is prevented from turning Iby thefriction exerted on it by the `laws l0. After thebody member has been located correctly the parts are returned, by

the cams, to their inactive positions and stay lin these positions until the next body member is to be acted upon. j

Referring now to Figs. l0 to 1'7,V inclusive, the

fuse link making and inserting-device will now be i described in detail. A frame structure-90 is secured to the table I0y and extends rearwardly therefrom. On the outer end of this frame structure a roll 9|, of fusible metal is mounted on a short shaft 92. The strip of metal 93 is carried over a roller 94 mounted 1on1 a shaftL95 in the frame structure. From this rol'ler'it` is carried down betweenetwo rollers 96 and` 9T. The roller 95; is mounted in the frame structure '90 while the roller.`9.| isA mounted for. oscillatory movement on two l levers: 98, pivotedon a shaft 99, which is mounted-on the rframe structure 90. The rollers 'are-held in close contact with eachother by means of.' tension springs-|00-mounted on pins "|0I and |02,Y inserted, respectively, in the ends of Vthe-shafts supporting .the rollers 96 and 91. The rollers 96 and 9'I may be geared together and their objectis'to smooth the fusible metal strip and remove any irregularities which it may contain. Thelfusible metal strip is allowed to form 'a-deep loop,as "Shown at |03. It is then carried upward-over a guide |04 `from where it is carried to 'the punch-and die, which-will be described later.

is connected to a link |06, which in turn is con` nectedto a-lever I 0'!l which is rigidly secured to a shaft Imounted on an upper frame structure 109. This upper frame member is mounted on a lower frame structure |I0 secured on top of the table I0. Aroller III is mounted on the lever |01 andengages-on a cam |I2 mounted on the main shaft I3. lAs this cam rotates, the arm |01 Will berocked and through the link |06 will impart a rocking motion tothelever |05, vwhich is conf nected tothe roller 96 by'means of the device shown in Fig. 16. This device will now be described.

The lever |05 is directly connected to a sleeve l! 3 whichis free to rotate on the end of the roller 05. Aplurality of angular cuts IIII (see Fig. 16) are formed in the ends of the sleeves, in oppositef directions, and in these cuts balls 5 are placed. `Fach ball is engaged by a plunger IIS which is actuated'by a compression spring Thus the plunger tends to wedge the balls against the .sleeve II3. `and roller 96. It will be noted that this movement acts somewhat similar to a ratchet in thatv it will cause the roller to move when the sleeve is turned in one direction and causes the balls to slip, and thus not move vthe roller, when turned in the opposite direction. The sleeves' |13A alternately wedge in one direction and slip infthe other direction of the oscillation.

The fuse-metal stripl` 93 passes over a lug IIS, .formed integrally with the lever |01, and under a feeding pawl II9, which is held in Contact with the metal by means of a spring |20. The fusible metal strip isnext passed through an opening |2| between theupper and lower frame members |09 and I I0. and is finally engaged over the die member, |22.

. A ram, .|23 is .slidingly mounted in a dovetailed groove.,` formed in a vertical member .|24 cast integrally with the upper frame member |09. A lug extends rearwardly from `the ram |23 "through a slot formed in the part |24. This lug is connected to 'one arm |28 of a bell crank by means of links |27. The other arm |28 of this bell crank is provided with a roller |29 at its outer end which engages on a cam mounted on a main shaft. 'As .this cam turns, an upward and downward movement is imparted to the ram nthrough the instrumentality of the bell crank and thelinks l, rlhe die |22 is secured to the Vlower frame member |I0, while the gang punch I 3| is secured to alug |32 which is fastened to the `ram |23. 4The connection between the levers |05 andi |06 is preferably made adjustable, as indi- 'Ihe roller 9B is actuated by a lever |05, which y cated'at |33, so as to feed an exact amount of the fusible metal strip.

Fig. 17 shows the manner in which the gang die operates. The metal strip is shown at 93. The first step is to pierce an opening |34, next a slight sheared operation is performed on each side of the metal as indicated at |35. After this the metal is sheared and the ends bent slightly over, as shown at |36, after which the metal is bent to the shape indicated at |31. It is finally severed by a cut ol punch on the line indicated at |38. All these operations are done simultaneously, so that in each descent of the punch a complete link is made and formed.

The various parts of the gang punch and die areplainly shown in |3| and |22 and inasmuch as the` construction of suchgang tools are well known in the art, it is not thought necessary to describe these parts in detail. The rollers 96 and 91'draw the metal from the roll 9| and, as previously said, straightens the metal. The actual feeding is performed by the feeding pawl I9 and the lug |l8. After the punch has engaged in the metal, a tail |39 formed on the feeding pawl is engaged by a lug |40 formed on the lever |26. This lug lifts the tip of the feeding pawlr and disengages it from the metal strip. In the meantime, kwhile the punches are still engaged in the metal, the arm |01 rocks rearwardly and engages further back under the metal strip 93. VAs the lever |26 is again lifted up, the lug |40 disengages the tail |39 and allows the pawl ||9 to engage with the metal strip. As the pawl |29 now swings forward, and as the punches have been disengaged from the metal strip, the strip is carried forward the exact amount for the next operation of the punch.

The manner in which the fuse link is inserted in the fuse will now be described and this is best illustrated in Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15. A bracket 4| 4| is formed on one side of the lower frame structure and from this bracket a shaft |42 extends forwardly. A sleeve |43 is slidingly mounted on the shaft and provided with a forwardly extending member |44 on the end of which the fuse link supportingV arm |45 is mounted. This arm is made of a very thin strip of metal, as shown in Fig. 12, but has on its extreme end a projection |46 which is shaped to conform to the shape that the link will have when inserted in the fuse. It extends rearwardly, looking at Fig. 13, so as to fit into the link and is of the shape plainly shown in Fig. 13. A groove |41 is formed on one side of the sleeve |43 and in this groove a'shoe |48 is slidingly mounted on one arm |49 of. a bell crank. A side view of this bell crank is shown in Fig. 10 while a top view isV shown in Fig. 12. The bell crank is pivoted on a shaft |50 mounted in a bearing on the frame structure H0, while the other arm of the bell crank is` provided with a roller |52 at its outer end. This roller engages on a cam 53. The cam is so constructed that it will impart inwardly and outwardly sliding movements of the sleeve |43 forY each revolution of the main shaft.

A stud |54 is secured on the other side of the sleeve, substantially oposite the groove |41, and this stud is engaged in a slot |55 formed in one arm |56 of a bell crank, which is pivoted on a shaft |51 mounted in a bearing |58 supported on the table. These parts are plainly illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14. In Fig. 10 these parts have been omitted to simplify the View, except for the bearing |58 which has been shown in this view so as to indicate its position in relation to the other parts of the machine. The other arm |59 of the bell crank carries a roller |60 at its outer end and this roller is engaged against a cam |6| mounted on the main shaft I3.

It will be seen that as the cam |5| rotates, the sleeve |43 will be turned on the shaft |42 and that consequently the fuse link supporting f arm |45 wil be moved into and out of the fuse, as

plainly illustrated in Fig. 13. A boss |62 is formed on the front of sleeve |43 and on this a double armed lever is mounted on a shaft |63. One arm |64 of this lever is curved, as shown, and made very thin at its extreme end |65. This thin end passes behind the fuse link suporting arm |45 and engages on top of the link when the link is supported on the member |46. This will be explained more fully later. The other arm |66 of this lever is provided with a roller |61 which is engaged by a flat member |68 formed on one arm |69 of a bell crank which is also pivoted on the shaft |51 supported in the bearing |58. The other arm |10 of this bell crank is provided at its outer end with a roller |1| which engages on a cam |12 mounted on the main shaft. It will bel seen that as the cam |12 turns the end |65 will be lifted so as to engage with, or disengage from, the fuse link supported on the member |46. A tension spring |13 tends to hold the arm |64 and the fuse link supporting member |45 together.

The link inserting mechanism just described is timed and functions in the following manner: Just before the punches |3| descend so as to sever a link from the strip of fuse metal, the links supporting member |46 is swung up in position so as to be inside of the link just before it is severed, while the end |65 of the arm |64 is disengaged from the link but slightly above it. The cut off punch occupies and passes through the narrow space shown at |14 in Fig. 12. As the link is severed the end |65 of the arm |64 engages on top of the link and this arm, as well as the fuse link supporting arm |45, moves downward with the link and forces this into the fuse, causing the link, owing to the groove 84 and the pocket 85 in the interior of the fuse, to assume the shape plainly shown in Fig. 13 and to cause the ends of the link to engage with the threaded metal shell 8| and the hollow rivet 82. After the link has been inserted in the fuse the end |65 of the arm |64 disengages from the top of the link and the fuse link supporting lever |45 is moved forward by the action of the cam |53 which, through the instrumentality of the bell crank arms |49 and |5|, and the shoe |48, which engages in the groove |41, causes the sleeve 43 to slide on the shaft |42. The parts are now moved up again to receive the next link to be severed.

In Fig. 10, a bell crank consists of an arm |15 which is provided with a circular socket |16 at its outer end. The other arm |11 of the bell crank is provided with a roller |18 at its outer end and this roller engages against a cam |19 mounted on the main shaft. As the cam |19 rotates the bell crank is rocked so that the fuse will engage in the socket |16 and be supported by the shoulder formed in this socket. This action raises the fuse slightly from the chain and supports it effectively while the link is forced into place.

After the fusible link has been inserted in the body member, as just described, the fuse is advanced another step underneath the acid pot D. While under this pot, two small quantities of acid are dropped into the recess in the fuse body andthese are so directed that one drop will cover onc'end o'f the 4fusible link and the part of the metal shellwith which it' is in contact, while the other drop of acid will cover the other end of the. fusible link as well as the part of the hollow rivet with which it is in contact. This is` done to clean the parts prior to soldering.

Inasmuch as the acid pot is similar in all respects to the solder pot, except that no means are provided for heating it as in the case of the soldering pot, it is not .thought necessary to describe it in detail. Its construction will be readily understood from the description of the solder pot. This solder potis shown in Fig. 18, and it consists of solder lcontainer .|8| which is supported inside of another container |82 inthe lower part of which a combustion chamber |83 is formed. `The solder may be kept hot by any suitable means, as for example,'gas, as shown by the.gas inlet pipe |84. The container |82 is supported on a frame structure |85 and on the up` per .part of this frame structure, two bearings |86 and |81 are formed. Two rods |88 are slidingly mounted in these bearings and extend down through bearings |89, formed in the cover |90 of the solder pot, and down through the solder pot. Only one of these rods is shown in Fig. 18, but the two of them are plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A sleeve |9| extends downwardly from the solder pot and concentrically through the combustion chamber |83. A plug |92is inserted in the lower end of this sleeve and in this plug two small orifices |93 are formed. Normally these orifices are closed by the pointed ends |94 of the rods |88 by means of compression springs |95 which abut against a collar |96, secured on the rod, and the bearing |86.

The rods |88 are actuated by a leverA |91, 200 which is rotatably secured on a shaft |98 supported in the frame |65. The rods are connected to one end of the lever |91, 209l by means of adjusting screws |99. The other end of the lever |91, 208 is connected, by means of a link 20|, to still another lever 282 pivoted on a shaft 203 which is mounted in thelower part of the frame structure |85. A roller 204 is mounted on the lever 282 and engages against a cam 205 which is mounted on the main shaft |3. It will be seen that for each turn of the main shaft the link 202 will be depressed by the actuating part 206 o n the cam. This causes the lever |91 to be lifted andthis consequently lifts the rods |88 so as to cause two small quantities of the solder, from the heated solder pot, to flow through the orifices |93.

However, before the fuse member enters under the solder pot, as well as before it enters under the acid pot, it is advisable that it be slightly tilted so that the acid or solder may be dropped at just the right points. This tilting is accomplished by a device of which the side view is shown in Fig. 18 and the top view in Fig. 19. In Fig. `19 the regular center line of the travel of the fuse is shown at 281. The tilting device consists of a bracket 288 which is secured to the table I8. On the outer end of this bracket two upwardly extending members '209 and2|0 are formed. As the fuse'tr'avels along `on the center line 201, its lower part encounters the member 2|0 and is caused to tilt as plainly shown in Fig. 18; This causes the bottom of the fuse to travel on v:the Acenter line indicated at 2|| -in Fig. 19.

After the-solder or acid has'been droppedv into 'the fuseland -thefuseI is'lagain advanced, the

lowerpart of the fuse `is engaged by a part 2|2 which again straightens the fuse member to its normal position. This is performed both under the acid pot and the solderv pot, as well as under .the pot F. inwhich heated'sealing cement, or any other l'suitablesealing medium, is contained. Inasmuch asthe-construction of the pot F is exactly. like the'solder pot just described, it `will notbe-necessary to further describe this pot.

The next step is to attach the label 39 and refernceis now made to Figs. 20to 23, inclusive, in whichthe label attaching device is shown. A bracket 2|3 is attached to the top of the table lf-and--extended rearwardly therefrom. In this bracket a reel 2|4 ismounted on a shaft 2i5land the stripof` labels 39 is wound on this reel and fed-to a setv of.1 punches which We now will describe. AY frame structure 2|5 is secured to the frontend of the. tableand in the upper end of Athis `frame structure two rams 2|1 and.2|"8 are slidingly mounted. A bell crank is mounted on a 'shaft 2|9 and one arm 220 of this bell crank is connected to the ram 2|8 by means of a link 22|. The other arm 222 of this bell crank is pro- -vide'd'lwith a-'roller 223 which engagesin a groove 224 'in the cam 225. As the cam turns, a reciprocating motion is imparted to the ram 2|8.

Another bellfcrank is mountedon the shaft 2|9 andf-has-one of its arms 226 connected to the ram `2|1,vby means of a link 221. The other arm 228 `of Ythis lbell crankis provided lwith arroller 229 which engages in the groove in a cam `230 secured on the main shaft. As this cam rotates the'ram 211 will be'reciprocated. A punch holder 23 iV is secured to the ram 2 |18 and in this `punch holder,` punches 232'and 233` ar-e secured. A forming punch 234isfsecured to a holder 235 which is secured on the ram 2|1. Adie 236 is secured under the punches and supported-on a member 231. ofv the frame structure 2|6.

The strip Vof labels 39is fed to the-punches by the following mechanism. An Aarm 238 is pivoted on a-Ashaft 239 whichis supported in the frame 2|5. The lower end ofthe lever is provided with a roller 240fwhichengages in the groove in acam24l. A feed pawl 242 is pivoted on the arm 238 .and this pa'wl is provided with two-pins- 243 `which engage inholes 244 punched,

at regular intervals, in theA strip oflabels as shown in-Fig, 22. A lug=245 is formed integrally with .the arm 238-and extends in under the strip of labels, as plainly' shown'in Fig. 20. This lug vis provided `with holes which align with the pins V243.' The -pawl 242 is alsoprovided with an arcu- 'atedtail 246 against'which one arm 241 of a lever pivoted` on the frame by stud 248.. The

other arm 249 of this lever is engaged. by an extension 250 formedon the punch holder 23|.

It will beseen that as the ram descends the extension 280will engage with" the arm 249 and depress this arm;` This'causes thearm 221 to engage with the tail 245 and consequently lifts the pins 243 out of the holes in the label. As the cam` 24| now turns the lever 238 is moved rearwardly' and, as the 'pins 243 encounter the next sets of holes 244 inV the strip of labels, the pins 253 severs the label from the strip as indicated at 254.

Prior to advancing the fuse `body under the label attaching device we preferably employ another aligning device to make sure that the fuse is still correctly located and with the fusible link 32 pointing in the right direction. This locating device, which is plainly shown in Figs. and 21, consists of two arms 255 and 256 .which are mounted on shafts 251 and 258 supported in forwardly extending brackets 259 formed on the frame structure 2|6. The arms are curved, as plainly shown in Fig. 20, so that they will pass around the chain and chain guides and they are provided, at the upper ends, with two narrow metal plates 268 and 26| which areadapted to enter in the recess of the fuse and engaged on opposite sides of the fusible link, thus turning the fuse if it should havebeen misplaced. The location of the fuse link is plainly shown in Fig. 23. The arms 255 and 256 are actuated by the following mechanism. A lever 262 whichV is an extension of arm 255 and another lever 263 which is an extension of arm 256, and the ends of these levers are preferably provided with rollers 264 and are engaged by a transverse member 265 formed on the outer end of a lever 266. To show these parts more plainly, a part of the chain links have been removed in Fig. 21. The lever 266 is secured on a shaft 261 on which another now be explained. After the label has been severed by the punch 253, it drops into a square recess 21| formed in the die 236 and as the forming punch 234 descends it engages the label right over the center of the I-shaped slit. By

forcing the label through a narrower ,opening and provided with a roller 218 at its outerend.

This roller engages on the cam 21.9.

Referring now particularly to Fig, 23. The forming punch 234 forces the label 39 completely through the opening 213 in the end of the lever 215. This causes the I-shaped slit to open and to form two tongues 288 and 28| which straddle the fusible link 32, as plainly shown. The lever 2.15 next rises and releases the label 39 and when descending flattens out the label on top of the fuse as the forming punch 234 again ascends. Thus the lower face of the outer end 214, of the lever 215, will 4engage with the upper face of the label 39 and flatten it out against the face of the fuse, but with the tongues 280 and 28| turned from the position shown in Fig. 23 undeineath the fusible link 32.

To hold the fuse link 32 in position while the label is being attached, the instrumentality now to be described is employed. It consists of an arm 282 which is rotating mounted on the shaft 251. On the upper end of this arm a fuse contact member 283 is secured. This contact member engages with the bottom of the fuse body and lifts it some short distance above the chain, while the label is being inserted. The movement which causes the arm 283 to lift the fuse is imparted by a spring 284 which causes the arm 2.83 to ride up on the member 265 when this member is dropped down by the action of the cam 218.

The label is now tightly secured to the fuse body by the manner in which the tongues 288 and 28| are held underneath the fusible link. As the chain moves, the fuses are carried underneath the guide 49, which is plainly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 at the left-hand of the machine. This inverts the fuse so that it now rides upside down on the lower part of the chain.

. The next step is to carry the fuse .to the testing device H which is illustrated in Figs. 24 and 1.

This testing device consists of Va relatively long strip of insulating material, such as fiber 285, on the opposite sides of this strip downwardlyextending metal plates 286 and 281 are secured.

One of these plates, as for example the plate 261, is hinged to the insulating strip,285, as indicated at 286. The plate 281 is held tightly against the fuse by means of a couple of springs 289, shaped as plainly shown in Fig. 24. As the 'fuses are carried between the plates 286 and 281,

these plates contact with the threaded, metal shell of the fuse. l

A metal bar 298 is mounted on pins 29| which are slidingly mounted in the insulating strip 286. This bar contacts with the center contact of the fuse. A solenoid 292 is secured .to a bracket 293, by means of which the whole testing device is secured to the table, and a lever 234 is pivotly mounted to the bracket. 'I'he other end of this lever supports an elongated platformY 295 over which the fuses must pass. The core 296 of the solenoid is pivotly connected to the lever 294. A'wire 291 connects a source of electricity with the spring 289, another wire '298, connects the bar 290 with the solenoid,

while a wire 299 connects the solenoid with the source of electricity.

The testing device works in the following manner; The `fuses, after leaving the guide 49, are carried over to the platform 295 and as previously said, in between the metal strips 286 and 281. If. the electric connections have been cor'- rectly made in the fuse, the current will flow through the wire 291, spring 289, metal strips 286 and 281 into the threaded metal shell of the fuse, then through the fuse link and out through the center contact, from whence it will flow through the bar 296, pins 29|, wire 293, solenoid 292, and through the wire 299, back to the original source. Properly connected fuses are thus'carried over the platform to another guide 42, from which they are discharged to a conveyor 43. However, if the fuse is incorrectly connected, no current will flow through the fuse, nor through the solenoid, thus causing the lever 294 to be dropped together with the platform 295. This causes any faulty fuse to be discharged into the shute 4|.

While some of the cams employed are of the disc type in which the roller engages on the periphery of the cam, others are of the groove,

Vor box, type shown in Fig. 25, where the cam roller 302 is connected, While the roller is contained in the circumferential part of the groove, but only when it passes through the raise .'iii. In none of the cams shown in the machine, Whether of the disc or groove type, has any attempt been made to show correct timing, as this would have greatly complicated the various views. However, the design and timing of such cams are so Weil known in the art that anyone, connected therewith, would readily be able to design and time such.

Under some circumstances, it may be advisable to preheat the fuse bodies before they are placed under the soldering pot. When this is found necessary, a perforated gas pipe, such as shown in 3M in Fig. l, is employed. rThis pipe is located underneath the chain and imparts a certain amount of heat to the fuse bodies. When Ithe fuse bodies are heated in this manner, it is sometimes also advisable to again cool them after the fusible link has been cemented in place. This may be accomplished by means of a perforated pipe, such as shown at 3&5 in Fig. l, through which cool air is forced.

While We have shown a specic type of fuse, known in the trade as the 0. K. fuse from the emblem 306 imprinted on the label, it is evident that fuses of many other types and various construction may be handled on this machine. It will further be understood that the machine is shown particularly to facilitate the description of the method employed.

Having described the inventionand its objects, What We claim as new and Wish to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, a rotatably mounted support for a roll of flat fuse metal, means for unwinding the roll and flattening irregularities in the fuse metal, means for feeding fiat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links are to be formed, means for severing, forming, and gripping fuse links, and means for inserting a fuse link in a fuse plug.

2. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, a rotatably mounted support for a roll of flat fuse metal, means for unwinding the roll and flattening irregularities in he fuse metal, means for feeding flat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links are to be formed, means for severing, forming, and gripping fuse links, means for locating a fuse plug, and means for inserting a fuse link in a fuse plug.

3. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, means for feeding flat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links are to be formed lcomprising a movable lug over which the fuse metal is passed and a paWl intermittently engaging the metal over the lug and movable With the lug and the metal, and means for severing and forming a fuse link.

4. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, means for feeding flat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links are to be formed, a gang die engageable with the metal for severing and forming a fuse link step by step and means for positioning and supporting a fuse plug thereunder.

5. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, means for feeding flat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links are to be formed, a gang die engageable with the metal for severing and forming a fuse link step by step, and mechanism for gripping the fuse link.

6. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, means for feeding fiat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links are to be formed, a gang die engageable with the metal for severing and forming a fuse link step by step, and mechanism for gripping the fuse link, said gang die and said gripping mechanism having top parts and lbottom parts cooperative in forming a fuse link.

7. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, means for feeding flat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links are to be formed, means for severing, forming, and gripping a fuse link, means for locating a fuse plug comprising a pivoted arm, and means for inserting a fuse link in the fuse plug.

8. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, a rotatably mounted support for a roll of fiat fuse metal, means for feedingiiat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links can be formed, means for severing, forming, and gripping a fuse link, and a pivoted arm for inserting the fuse link in the fuse plug.

9. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, a rotatably mounted support for a roll of fiat fuse metal, means for feeding flat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which links are to be formed, means for severing, forming, and gripping a fuse link, a pivoted arm for inserting the fuse link in the fuse plug, and means for releasing the gripper from the fuse link.

l0. In a machine for making fuse plugs, in combination, means for feeding flat fuse metal intermittently to positions at which fuse links are to be formed, a gang die engageable with the metal for severing and forming a fuse link step by step, means for supporting a plurality of fuse plugs, and means for positioning the fuse plugs intermittently under the gang die in synchronization with the fuse-metal feed.

LEO WEISS. LOUIS LUDWIG. 

